I could perfectly disregard what all others said of you, as long as you were satisfied with your own conduct; but I would not for any worldly happiness, that you should live a coward in your own esteem." "My own, own Victorine," said he, "how right you are! What true happiness could we have ever had, if we attempted to enjoy it at the expense of our countrymen! Every man owes his life to his country; in happy, quiet times, that debt is best paid by the performance of homely quiet duties; but our great Father has not intended that lot for us." "His will be done.

He may yet turn away from us this misery.

We may yet live, Charles, to look on these things as our dearest reminiscences." "We may; but it is not the chance for which we should be best prepared.
We are not to expect that God will raise his arm especially to vindicate our injuries; it would be all but blasphemous to ask Him to do so.

We are but a link in the chain of events which His wisdom has designed.
Should we wish that that chain should be broken for our purposes ?" "Surely not.

I would not be so presumptuous as to name my own wishes in my prayers to the Creator." "No; leave it to His wisdom to arrange our weal or woe in this world; satisfied with this, that He has promised us happiness in the world which is to come." "I must leave you on Monday, dearest," continued he, after a pause, during which he sat with his wife's hand within his own.
"So soon, Charles!" "Yes, dearest, on Monday.